Electrical connector



April 6, 1965 J. A. TOEDTMAN 3,177,459

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 19, 1962 42 6 J INVENTOR,

OHN A. TOEDTMAN. lga 27 23 Mm ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,177,459 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR John A. Toedtman, St. Louis, Mo, assignor to Jasper Blackburn Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,398 '7 Claims. (Cl. 339-109) This invention relates generally to improvements in an electrical connector, and more particularly to an improved structural arrangement that facilitates the installation of such connector to a hot line.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a parallel-groove connector that enables a tap Wire to be held securely, yet temporarily, while the connector is op-v eratively "attached to both the tap wire and a through main wire.

Another important objective is achieved by the provision of a set screw attached and carried by one of the body sections, the set screw being adapted to hold the tap wire to the same body section in a tap wire groove located between a pair of body sections, and by the provision of fastening means interconnecting the body sections and selectively closing the body sections onto the tap wire and main wire While the tap wire is held temporarily in place by the set screw.

Still another important object is afforded by an end flange on one body section which overlaps the tap wire groove, the end flange having an opening through which the tap wire extends when located in the appropriate groove, the set screw being threadedly attached to the end flange and engaging the tap wire in the opening for retention.

An important object is realized by the provision of a pair of end flanges on one of the body sections which overlap opposite ends of the tap wire groove, each end flange having an opening adapted to receive the tap wire and position it in the tap wire groove. The end flanges preclude the tap wire from failing downwardly out of the groove, while the set screw, in addition, prevents the tap wire from being withdrawn endwise from the connector.

Another important object is provided by resilient means between the body sections tending to urge the body sec tions apart, and by a guide means interconnecting one side of the body sections and enabling relative swinging and shifting movement of the body sections toward or away from each other upon actuation of the fastening means.

Yet another importantobjective is achieved by the provision of a bolt that constitutes the fastening means, and by the provision of means on one body section which provides a chamber for lubricant into which the end of the bolt moves upon bolt actuation, the lubricant conditioning the bolt for easy operation at all times.

An important object is realized by threadedly attaching the bolt to one body section and freely passing the bolt through a slot formed in the other body section, the bolt moving relatively along the slot as the body sections swing and shift about the guide means connection.

Other important advantages are obtained by theprovision of a curvilinear carnming surface on one of the body sections which coacts with the bolt to move the body sections together easily upon tightening of the bolt.

Another important objective is to provide a parallelgroove connector that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, highly eiiicient in operation and which can be easily installed by anyone with only a minimum of instruction. I

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment,

3,177,459 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the electrical connector, illustrating the main Wire and tap wire in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view illustrating the tap wire retained temporarily in place;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view as seen from the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 44 of FIG. 3, illustrating the connector as clamped securely on both the main wire and tap wire, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view as seen along line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it is seen that the electrical connector is of the parallel-groove type adapted to connect operatively a tap wire 10 with a through main or hot wire 11.

From FIGS. 2 and 4, it is seen that the upper body section generally referred at 12 is provided with a longitudinal, substantially arcuate seat 13 on its bottom. The seat 13 extends endwise of the connector and is located at one side. At the opposite side of the connector, the upper body section 12 is provided with a longitudinal, substantially arcuate seat 14 on its bottom. For reasons which will appear later, it will be noted that the arcuate seat 1 is larger than its laterally spaced, parallel, yet cooperating seat 13.

Located in the upper body section 12 between the longitudinal seats 13 and 14, is a threaded vertical bore 15.

To facilitate positioning of the upper body section 12 upon assembly, the body section 12 is provided with downwardly depending shoulders 16. These shoulders 16 are located on opposite sides of the vertical bore 15 and are located internally of the connector.

In addition, the upper body section 12 includes a pair of end flanges 17 and 18 that overlap the ends of the arcuate seat 13. Each of the end flanges 17 and 18 is provided with an opening 20 aligned with arcuate seat 13, the tap wire 1% extending through the opening 20. It will be noted that when the tap wire 10 is located in the end flange opening 20, the tap wire 10 is carried by the upper body section 12, the end flanges 17 and 18 precluding the tap wire 10 from falling downwardly out of the connector.

One of the end flanges 18 is provided with an enlarged boss portion 21 immediately adjacent its associated opening 20. A set screw 22 is threadedly attached and carried by the boss portion 21, the set screw 22 extending into the opening 21 and operatively engaging the tap wire 10 to hold the tap wire 10 selectively against the seat 13 as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

The electrical connector includes a cooperating lower body section referred to generally at 23. The lower body section 23 is provided with an upwardly facing longitudinal arcuate seat 24. It will be importantly noted that the body seats 13 and 24 formed respectively in the cooperating body sections 12 and 23 are aligned vertically to provide a tap wire groove therebetween as is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. When the body sections 12 and 23 are assembled, the tap Wire groove is adapted to receive the tap wire 10. I

The opposite side of body section 23 includes an upwardly facing, longitudinal arcuate seat 25. The substantially arcuate seat 25' is larger than its laterally spaced, parallel, yet associated arcuate seat 24. Importantly, it will be noted that the arcuate seatsl i and 25 formed respectively in the cooperating body sections '12 and 23 are aligned vertically upon assembly of the body sections 12 and 23 so as to form a main wire groove as is best seen inFIGS. 2 and 4, the main wire groove being particularly adapted to receive the main wire 11.

That portion of the lower body section 23 intermediate the arcuate seats 2 -1 and 25 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending end shoulders 26 that fit within the upper body section '12 and are located closely adjacent the end flanges 17 and 18. This structural arrangement precludes relative longitudinal movement of the body sections 12' and 23 in an endwise direction. 7 V V Formed transversely, in the lower body section 23 between the arcuate seats 24 and 25 is a slot 27 that is aligned vertically with the threaded bore 15. when the body sections 12" and-23 are assembled. The purpose and tunction of slot 27 will be apparent upon subsequent description of parts.

4 The lower body section 23 is provided with a curvilinear camming surface 30 on its underside; '7 As will appear later, this camining surface 30 facilitates the-positioning of the lower body section 23 relative to the upper body section 12. i

Immediately below the arcuate seat 24-, each end of the lower body section 23 is provided with a recess that provides an inverted L-shaped shoulder 31.

appear, the cooperating shoulders 31 and 32 constitute a guide means-interconnecting the upper and lower body sections 12 and 23.

When the lower body section 23 is loosened and swung open as is illustrated in FIG. 2,.the shoulders "31' seat Engaging each of the shoulders 31 isan in-turned shoulderl32, formed on each of the end flanges 1'7- and 18. As will makesit easy to turn'at alltimes. 1

the body sections 12 and 23 apart.

- 7 4 4 a Formed integrally on the top side of upper body section 12 is a substantially cylindrical member 36 providing a chamber-37 into which the upper end of bolt 34 moves. JA lubricant 40' is placed in the chamber 37.

The upper end of cylindrical'member 36 is closed by lid 7 41 to seal the lubricantiMY in such chamber 37. The

lubricant 40 lubricates the. threads on the bolt 34 and 'Located between the body sections 12 and 23 and disposedabout the-bolt 34 is a compression spring 42 constituting a resilient means. The spring 42 tends to urge Itis thoughtthat the installation of the electrical connector'and the functional results and advantages have becomefully apparent from the foregoing; detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, such in V stallation will be briefly set forth.[ a

on the in-turned flange shoulders 32 to provide a ,co nnection about which the lower body section 23 swings. When 7 the lowerbody section 23 is moved to a closed position as will be described later, the lower body section- 23, swings upwardly about the connection-formed. by engaging shoulders 31* and 32, and subsequently the lower body seetion-23 shifts upwardly toward the upper body section 12, at'which time the horizontal portion of each inverted L-shaped shoulder 31 disengages from its coact ing in-turned flange shoulder 32... 'However it-will be First, the electrical connector isasser'n'bled by placing the body sections 12 and 23in superimposed relation, one

above the other, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, with the guide shoulders 32 interfitting the coacting guide shoul- .de'rs 31, ,with'the seats 13 and 24 aligned to form the tap through the openings 20 in'the end flanges 17 .and 18 of the upper body section 12, and-hence is disposed in the arcuate seat 13. The tap wire 10 is clamped against seat 13 and thereby secured to the upper body section 12 by th'readedlytightening the set-screw 22 onto the tap wire noted that during this'upwa'rd shiftingmovement-of the lower body section 23, that the in-turned flange shoulders 32 engage therelativelyvertical portions of the inverted L-shaped' shoulders 31.to guide the lower body section 23in such movement to-' assurethat the tap wire10and' mainwire ll' are clamped securely in place.

Depending from each end of the lower body section 23 is alug 33, the lugs 33 cooperating with a hot control stick (notkshownytorplahternent of'theconnector',

and particularly for location of=the connector'to receive the main wire..1-1 in'the main'wire groove between the .body sections. a

1 0 It iss een that the set screw 22 holdsthe tap Wire 10 to theupper body section 12'temporarily incident tothe permanent installation.

A control stick' (not shown) isused to'grip the lugs 33and raise the electrical connector into position for operative connection to the. hot? 'main' wire 11. Thecon nector is manipulated so thatthe main wire 11 is inserted between'the body. sections 12 and'23'and into the main The fastening means interconnecting-the. body sections 12 and23' includes a bolt 34 that extends upwardly freely through the slot 2,7 formed'in lower body 'section 23 and threadedly engages the bore 15 formed in the upper wire groove. After the main wire '11-;is located in the main wire groove, anothersuitable tool isv utilized to tighten the bolt 34,*and henceclampthe body sections 12 and 23 together on both the tap wire 10 and main when.

,7 As the bolt'34 is'threadedly tightened, the bolt 34'swings the lower body section '23- upwardly, toward the. upper body sectio'n12 about; the guide shoulder connection 31-32 and subsequently shiftsthe lower body ,section23 up body section12. -An eye member 35 is attached to-the lower end ofbolt 34. i A suitabletool' (not-shown) can a he -"advantageously connected to the eye mgmber- 35 to turn the bolt 35 incident to closingor opening the body sections 12' and 23:

Atpair of .washers38' and are disposed about the" bolt34 and located between the eye m'exnberv 35 and the flat while washer 39, is dished downwardly, so that-upon underside of the lower body section'23; Wasl'1er138 istightening, the" washer 39 will exert 'a resilient'a'xial prestheiupperlbody section 12 veryjeasily; Upon tightening;

thebolt .34, the canunin'g'surface '30 tends to swing orf, laterally adjust the position of the. lower body sectionfi 23 to" a'econnn'cidate the particular sizes of th'etap wire- W 10'and main-wire 11 and to distribute'the' clamping forces on such wiresso. as tjohold the wires securely between;

thegbodyasections'. Topermitthisis v H I r i and'slightl-late'ral' adjustmenteotthe lower ibodyfi'section 23,. theboltv 34 moves relatively along theslightly elo' gatedslot 27. l

ging" movement wardly as permittedrby the interfitting guideshoulders31 and 32; The body sections 12 and523'are urged together while the tap wire 10 is 'temporarily held' infplace against the upper; body'secti on 12 by theset' screw 22'. As ex-,

plained'previously, thebody section23"adjusts itselif auto? natically to-accommodate thesizesof-the wires involved; *Ofcourse, the body sections are moved together against the loading .ofj the 'coinpressionisipring-42 I .Upon-tightening, the upper end of the'bolt 34 moves 7 V V I l 'into the lubricant chamber 37. sure on'the bolt 34 and particularly between the coacting j threads in bore 15to provide a secure attachment; 7

As: will appear, upon tightening the bolt-34,'the bolt 34 will urge the lower body section 23 upwardly toward After tap wire andmain wire l l have been clamped securelybetween-the body sections ':12- and 23' upon .threaded'Ftightening of bolt 34","; the .toolis disconnected from the'eye member 35 and thecont'rol'stick is removed from theilugs, 33.l I

ried out '"For exampleg the bolt 34 is loosened" which allows the l'lower body' section"'23 Ito moveyand swing downwardly under the compressive; loading of spring? 42 Ltd-dire positiorr near-attain FI ,2; IA Jcontrol 'stick attached-toithefl A i i connector h m-the main vvire 11; desired; the tap gs 33 jean be then utilized? to "remove the wire 10 can be easily removed by loosening the set screw 22 and withdrawing the tap wire 10 endwise through the end flange openings 20.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove thercbetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tap wire groove,

(0) resilient means carried by and between said body sections tending to urge said body sections apart,

(d) fastening means interconnecting said body sections and selectively closing the sections against the loading of resilient means onto a main wire located in the main wire groove and onto the tap wire located in the tap wire groove, and

(e) the body sections including shoulders, the shoulder of one body section seating on the shoulder of the other body section under loading of the resilient means to provide a connection about which the one body section swings upon tightening of the fastening means.

2. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove therebetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tape wire groove,

(c) resilient means carried by and between the body sections tending to urge the body sections apart, (d) fastening means interconnecting said body sections and selectively swinging and moving the body sections onto a main wire located in the main wire groove and onto the tap wire located in the tap wire groove, and

(e) one body section including an out-turned shoulder, and the other body section including an in-turned shoulder on which the out-turned shoulder seats under the loading of the resilient means to provide a connection about which the one body section swings upon tightening of the fastening means.

3. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove therebetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tap wire groove,

(c) resilient means carried by and located between said body sections tending to urge said body sections apart,

(d) fastening means interconnecting said body sections and selectively swinging and shifting the body sections toward each other against the loading of said resilient means onto a main wire located in the main wire groove and onto the tap wire located in the tap wire groove, and

(e) one body section including an inverted substantially L-shaped shoulder, and the other body section ineluding an in-turned shoulder on which the substantially L-s'haped shoulder seats under loading of the resilient means to provide a connection about which the one body section swings upon tightening of the fastening means until the main wire is engaged, the shoulders unseating yet engaging laterally to guide the one body section on a shifting movement under loading of the resilient means in order to engage 6 the tap wire upon continued tightening of the fastening means.

4. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove therebetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tap wire groove,

(0) resilient means carried by and located between said body sections tending to urge said body sections apart,

(d) fastening means interconnecting said body sections and selectively swinging and shifting the body sections toward each other against the loading of said resilient means onto a main wire located in the main wire groove and onto the tap wire located in the tap wire groove,

(e) one body section including a pair of inverted substantially L-shaped shoulders, and the other body section including a pair of in-turned shoulders on which the L-shaped shoulders seat under loading of the resilient means to provide a connection about which the one body section swings upon tightening of the fastening means until the main wire is engaged, the in-turned shoulders engaging the relatively upright portions of the inverted L-shaped shoulders to guide the one body portion in a shifting movement to engage the tap wire upon continued tightening of the fastening means, and

(1) one of said body sections including a curvilinear camming surface engaging the fastening means to swing and shift the body sections together easily upon tightening of said fastening means.

5. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove therebetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tap wire groove,

(c) a bolt operatively interconnecting said body sections between said grooves,

(d) a resilient means about the bolt and carried by and between the body sections tending to urge said body sections apart, and

(e) the body sections including shoulders at one side of the bolt adjacent the tap wire groove, the shoulder of one body section seating on the shoulder of the other body section under loading of the resilient means to provide a connection about which the one body section swings upon tightening the bolt until the one body section engages the main wire, the shoulders engaging laterally to guide the one body section in a shifting movement to engage the tap wire upon continued tightening of the bolt.

6. An electrical connector comprising:

(a) a pair of body sections, said body sections having a tap wire groove and a main wire groove therebetween,

(b) means on one of said sections by which a tap wire is clamped to said one body section in the tap wire groove,

(c) a bolt operatively interconnecting said body sections between said grooves, the bolt being threadedly attached to one body section, the other body section being provided with a slot through which the bolt freely extends,

(d) a compression coil spring about the bolt and carried by and between the body sections tending to urge said body sections apart, and

(e) one body section including a pair of laterally spaced out-turned shoulders adjacent the tap wire groove at one side of the bolt, the other body section including a pair of in-turned shoulders on which the exit-turnedssholildersseat under'lloadingiofthe spring to provide a connection about whichfthe one section swingsfa'sthetbolt iStightfinG'd'Mflfil themain Wire .is :enga'ged,I-.the shoulders'slidbly engaging to .guide' thebodyrsections in a. shifting move'ment of the one body section toward the other'body'section .to 'engage the ltap IWEire upon continued tightening v -:of ithe: bolt;

7. An electrical connector comprising: 7

(a) an nppenand fa' l'ower-body section, said bodysec- 'tlons havi'ng :aitap wirezgrooveflan'dia main wire groove therebetween,

1 V (b) manson the uppersec'tions byrwhi'chx'a tap :wire

is clamped-to the upper body secti'onin the'itap wire tgroove,

(c) -a bolt: operatively ihtierconnecting said body secr-iedt'byzand :between the body sections tending to i urge-:saidibody'sectionsaparnand (e)"the lower'body'section including a pair of inyerted substantially L-shaped shoulders laterallyspaced and "up er body seetidn 'includin :a pair "of ilate'r-a'n'y -spaced in turned shotilde'rson which the substantially t L-shaped shoulder s s'ea t ndeiiloadihg of the spring to provide a connection b'o'iit'whichth'e lowepbody section swings Upon tightening of fthflbolt- Until-the lower body section engages 'the main wire, the inturned shoulders-engaging the relatively vertical'po-rtions of, the -inve'rted 'L-sh'ap'ed shoulders to =guide the lower body section in 'anupwardlyshifting-movement toward- 'the upper body 5 section i to 'eriga'ge the itap 'wireiupon eontinued tightening of the bolt, "0) the bolt bvin' relatively elbhg said slot zis the body sections swing about and shift on the said interfitting shoulders.-

References by the Examiner I q UNI'TEDMSTATES "PATENTS V HENSON WOOD, m; Primar f'Examineif located on the tap'wire'. groove side of thejbo'lgthe g5 'JO'SEPH D. SEERSQExamin'er. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF BODY SECTIONS, SAID BODY SECTIONS HAVING A TAP WIRE GROOVE AND A MAIN WIRE GROOVE THEREBETWEEN, (B) MEANS ON ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BY WHICH A TAP WIRE IS CLAMPED TO SAID ONE BODY SECTION IN THE TAP WIRE GROOVE, (C) RESILIENT MEANS CARRIED BY AND BETWEEN SAID BODY SECTIONS TENDING TO URGE SAID BODY SECTIONS APART, (D) FASTENING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID BODY SECTIONS AND SELECTIVELY CLOSING THE SECTIONS AGAINST THE LOADING OF RESILIENT MEANS ONTO A MAIN WIRE LOCATED IN THE MAIN WIRE GROOVE AND ONTO THE TAP WIRE LOCATED IN THE TAP WIRE GROOVE, AND (E) THE BODY SECTIONS INCLUDING SHOULDERS, THE SHOULDER OF ONE BODY SECTION SEATING ON THE SHOULDER OF THE OTHER BODY SECTION UNDER LOADING OF THE RESILIENT MEANS TO PROVIDE A CONNECTION ABOUT WHICH THE ONE BODY SECTION SWINGS UPON TIGHTENING OF THE FASTENING MEANS. 